Yes.
That’s what it came down to in the end Wednesday when Sharon Springs Central School teachers voted to take a one-year wage freeze.
Though hoped for by both SSCS administrators and union officials, the vote, passed by a majority of teachers, left almost everyone scrambling for words.
“I’m very happy,” said John Walker, president of the teachers’ association. “Very happy….I guess I’m just out of words.”
Expected that Monday, the decision was delayed by two days to allow absent teachers a chance to vote.
A special 4pm school board meeting was called to act on the 2010-2011 budget—one way or the other—and it was all over by 4:06.
“It really shows what kind of community we live in that teachers would do this,” said school board member Jim MacFadden.
“Thank you very much,” added Allan Potter, school board president.
“Thank you for your dedication to this school and this community.”
The teachers vote on a wage freeze follows last year’s vote to do the same by SSCS non-teachers and administration.
In concessions, SSCS agreed to give teachers back one conference day and switch two Regents Week days to half-days.
The librarian’s position has also been moved back to fulltime, though the job will include additional teaching duties.
“Obviously, I’m quite pleased,” SSCS Superintendent Pat Green on Monday. “It really shows everyone that our staff really cares.
“I’ve known for a long time how much they care about our school and our kids…this shows how much they care about our community too. They really stepped up.”
No other local schools are discussing wage freezes with their teachers and no other New York State schools are expected to approve one.